Hunter
12/17/24
A Coralville woman has been charged with assisting suicide after investigators learned that she allegedly coached a woman over social media on how to commit the act.
The Gazette reports the case involved the Dec. 29, 2021, death of a 38-year-old Olin woman who the Jones County Sheriff’s Office said died by hanging. The death was later ruled a suicide. 48-year-old Jennifer Williams made the 911 call to report the death, and a deputy noted at the scene that Williams just shrugged her shoulders when they expressed sorrow for the loss of her friend.
An initial investigation showed that Williams and the victim exchanged messages on Snapchat and a warrant was executed to get the full conversation. Police say Williams knew the woman was suicidal, but discussed funeral arrangements and supplies for the suicide. No messages told the victim not to kill herself.
Williams was arrested December 3rd and charged with the rare crime of Assisting Suicide, a Class C felony punishable by a prison term of up to ten years if convicted.